Toothpick dispenser



Nov. 24, 1959 B. GASPARINI 2,914,216

TOOTHPICK DISPENSER Filed July 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet i INVENTOR.BENEDETTO ASPA2H-H 4, 1959 B. GASPARINI 2,914,216

TOOTHPICK DISPENSER Filed July 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w I 'ml u HIIIIIIIIII IIIII I I INVENTOR. BENEDETTO GAPA ml 6 v BEE .41

HTTURNEY r' 2,914,216 [Ce Patented Nov. 24, 1959 TOOTHPICK DISPENSER IBenedetto Gasparini, Long Island City, NY.

Application July 26, 1957, Serial No. 674,325 1 Claim. (Cl. 221'190)This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a toothpickholder and dispenser.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a device forholding a plurality of toothpicks with means for separating a singletoothpick from the mass of toothpicks and for dispensing the separatedtoothpick.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined holder anddispenser of toothpicks having means for preventing reinsertion into theholder of a dispensed toothpick.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toothpick holder anddispenser which is readily filled and which is eflicient in operation.

It is further proposed to provide a toothpick holder and dispenser whichis sanitary, attractive in appearance, characterized by fewness ofparts, readily supported on a fiat supporting surface, simple inconstruction and adapted to be manufactured and sold at a reasonablecost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a top perspective view of a toothpick holder and dispenserembodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a spread perspective view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the top closure plate.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the plane of the line 44 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the movable body of the holder anddispenser.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the plane of the line6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 6, showing the casing extended abovethe bottom closure of the dispenser, and showing in dashlines a step inthe assembly of the holder.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in Fig. 1 a toothpick holder anddispenser embodying my invention is indicated generally at 15. Thisholder and dispenser is formed entirely of a suitable plastic material,the different structural elements of which may be molded and ofcontrasting solid colors in order to enhance the appearance of theholder. The holder and dispenser comprises an elongatedrectangular-shaped casing 16 composed of a rectangular-shaped box-likemovable body 17 open at the top and bottom, a base plate or bottomclosure plate 18 and a removable top closure plate 19.

The base or bottom closure plate 18 is formed with a centrally disposedpartition wall 20 which extends upwardly from its top surface frompoints remote from the ends of the plate. At its top edge, the partitionwall is formed with extensions at its ends constituting hooks 21, 21,with curved top end edges. Hook 21 is slightly longer than hook 21' topermit assembly and disassembly of the plate 18. The top surface of thetop edge '2 of the partition wall 20 is formed with a groove 22therealong from hook to hook adapted to receive a toothpick in proneposition. A downwardly extending flange 23 around the periphery of theplate raises the plate from its supporting surface.

The box-like body 17 is slightly smaller in dimensions than the bottomclosure plate 18 and is movably supported on the base plate. The bodycomprises a pair of elongated side walls 24, 24 and end walls 25, 25connecting the side walls. A pair of opposed slanting shelves orplatforms 26, 26 extend from a point just above the centers of the sidewalls inwardly and downwardly toward the center thereof, at which pointthe shelves extend in a direction parallel to the side walls to formclosely spaced flanges 27, 27 providing a slot 28 between the flangesextending the length of the body. Slot 28 at its bottom end is slightlyshorter than at its top end whereby shoulders 29, 29 are formed at thebottom ends of the slot.

Top plate 19 is of the same size as the bottom closure plate 18 and isformed with a central slot 30 of substantially the same length as thelength of the partition wall 20. The plate 19 is preferably formed withpairs of spaced end studs 31, 31 on its inner surface, and with a pairof elongated ribs 32, 32 adjacent the long edges thereof.

In assembling the holder and dispenser, the box-like body 17 is insertedover the partition wall 20 of the bottom closure plate 18, theshouldered end of the slot 28 thereof being hooked over the long hook 21by tilting the body 17 and then sliding the body at said end inwardly onplate 20 and then inserting the opposite end of the body over theopposite hook 21' of the partition wall and forcing the body inwardlyinto contact with the top surface of the bottom closure plate so thatthe partition wall protrudes through the slot 28 to the top edge of thebox-like body, thereby dividing said box-like body into severalcompartments 33, 33 for holding a supply of toothpicks 34 on the shelves26, 26 as shown in Fig. 4. The top plate 19 is then mounted over theopen top of the box-like body with its slot 30 receiving the top edge ofthe partition wall 20 in exposed condition. The studs 31, 31 and ribs32, 32 on the top plate guide it to proper position on the box-like bodyfor closing the top of the body. These studs and ribs also preventshifting of the top plate on the box-like body. The top plate, however,can readily be lifted off of the box-like body in order to fill thecompartments with toothpicks. The bottom plate 18 and top plate 19 mayalso be formed with finger pieces 35 and 36, respectively, on one endthereof in aligned relation so that these plates may be grasped by thefingers of the user to facilitate tilting of the top plate 19 forfilling the compartments with toothpicks or for any other desiredpurpose.

In using the combined toothpick holder and dispenser, the long sides 24,24 of the box-like body 17 are preferably grasped by the fingers of theuser and the body with the top closure plate 19 lifted off of the bottomclosure plate 18 thereby carrying the inner edges of the shelves 26, 26above the top edge of the partition wall 20 whereupon a toothpick 34 isadapted to roll off the inner edge onto the groove 22 in the top edgesurface of the partition wall. The shoulders 29 on the box-like body 17interlock with the hooks 21, 21' on the partition wall 20 and limitoutward movement of said box-like body on the partition wall. Thebox-like body with the top plate is then moved inwardly onto the bottomclosure plate again whereupon the toothpick which is supported in thegroove 22 is positioned in the slot 30 of the top closure plate 19 inexposed condition ready to be lifted olf by the user. The partition wall20 substantially fills the slot 30 so that a dispensed toothpick cannotbe reinserted either accidentally or on purpose.

It will be understood that the invention might be used for holding anddispensing other cylindrical articles such as matches, pencils and thelike.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent 1s:

A combined toothpick holder and dispenser, comprising a rectangular baseplate having a centrally disposed upstanding wall, said wall beingformed with two extensions constituting hooks with curved top end edges,said wall having a top edge formed with a groove extending from one hookto the other, said groove being just deep enough to receive a singletoothpick in longitudinal extension therein, said plate having aperipheral flange extending downwardly therefrom for raising the plateabove a supporting surface, a rectangular box-like body movably disposedover said plate, said body comprising a pair of elongated side wallsconnected by end walls, a

pair of opposed slanting shelves extending from a point just above thecenters of the side walls inwardly and downwardly and terminating in twoclosely spaced flanges disposed parallel to the side walls of the body,the spacing of said flanges being substantially equal to the thicknessof said upstanding wall, said flanges having inwardly extending portionsdefining shoulders for engaging said hooks when said body is raised fromthe base plate, and a flat rectangular top plate removably disposed onsaid body, said top plate having a longitudinal central slot having alength substantially the same as the length of said partition wall, saidtop plate being formed with studs and ribs for positioning the top plateon the body with the ribs and studs fitting inside said body, said baseand top plates being formed with finger gripping extensions, one of saidhooks being longer than the other to facilitate disposing said body overthe base plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,454,529 Zebra May 8, 1923 1,680,826 Viola Aug. 14, 1928 FOREIGNPATENTS 465,723 France Feb. 13, 1914 590,203 France Mar. 12, 1925

